1. Yorke Peninsula Country Times, Rachel Hagan, "Crash Ignites Investigation"

Hagan's image staged with talent from her story is compelling and dramatic. Benefiting greatly from the subject's ability to impart his frustration at the situation through face and body gesticulation, Hagan's composition is well balanced and was used to great effect on this edition's front page. Fortunately the sun was diffused by cloud on the day so the subject's face presents well against the backdrop of country roads and signage. An excellent news photo does not necessarily need to tell the whole story but it certainly needs to demand a reader pick up the newspaper just as this intriguing image does.

2. The Courier, Louis Mayfield, "Harry's Legacy"

A poignant, heartrending image by Mayfield which draws the viewer's immediate attention. The bereaved mother's eyes, brimming with despair but tainted with anger are perfectly illuminated by gentle window light and plenty of negative space was provided to the editor for headline and copy.

3. The Times, Victor Harbor, Dani Brown, "Emergency Entrance"

A situation which could have been disastrous provides a touch of humour in the captured image, albeit not for the injured parties. A closer zoom or just a tighter crop would possibly have helped the framing of the action.

(Commendation: The Plains Producer, Lisa Schultz, "Slow Start for Hay")

This is a solid image using off-camera flash to illuminate the subject against a bright background. It is a technically difficult shot.  The "second subject", the crumbled dust, could possibly be more prominent. If the sun were positioned directly behind the subject it may have created a rim-light around his head. By stopping down the shutter and/or aperture the background would be darkened a bit which would "pop" the subject and by switching the dust to the hand opposite the flash position there might even be a cool backlight effect through the falling grains. Great to see experimentation with light in photographic fieldwork.